Raphia australis: Acute toxicity, antioxidant capacity and antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Subject Areas : Journal of Medicinal Herbs, "J. Med Herb" (Formerly known as Journal of Herbal Drugs or J. Herb Drug)

شارلوت  تاتا ¹ (گروه زیست شناسی انسانی، دانشکده علوم بهداشت، دانشگاه والتر سیسولو، آفریقای جنوبی.)
کنستانس  سویانی-روسیکه ² (گروه زیست شناسی انسانی، دانشکده علوم بهداشت، دانشگاه والتر سیسولو، آفریقای جنوبی.)
اولوکایود  آرمو ³ (گروه زیست شناسی انسانی، دانشکده علوم بهداشت، دانشگاه والتر سیسولو، آفریقای جنوبی.)
بندیکتا  نکه-چونگگ ⁴ (گروه علوم زیستی و محیطی، دانشکده علوم طبیعی، دانشگاه والتر سیسولو، آفریقای جنوبی.)

Received: 2022-01-03 Accepted : 2022-04-04 Published : 2022-04-21

Keywords: Toxicity, Antioxidant, Hypertension, Raphia australis, Spontaneously hypertensive rats,

Abstract :

Background & Aim: The fruits of R. australis are eaten as snacks in some West and Central African countries. This study was aimed at evaluating the safety, antioxidant capacity and antihypertensive effects of these fruits.Experimental: The acute toxicity of the extract of R. australis extract (RAE) was evaluated through single and short term oral exposure of mice to RAE. Total phenols and flavonoid contents were quantified followed by 1,1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with RAE and blood pressure (BP) was measured after once off treatment (phase I) and in the course of 4 weeks treatment (phase II).Results: The LD50 of RAE was greater than 5000 mg/kg. RAE had mild antioxidant capacity and significantly (P<0.001) decreased systolic and diastolic BP in both once off treatment and 4 weeks treatment while decreasing urine output and increasing feces output.Recommended applications/industries: These results indicate that Raphia australis is not toxic and thus is safe for consumption. Pharmaceutically, it has mild antioxidant and significant antihypertensive properties. It also has the ability to improve appetite, increase bulk thus aiding in peristalsis and waste removal.

References:

Adidja, N. M., Agbor, V. N., Aminde, J. A., Ngwasiri, C. A., Ngu, K. B. and Aminde, L. N. 2018. Non-adherence to antihypertensive pharmacotherapy in Buea, Cameroon: a cross-sectional community-based study. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 18(1): 150-159.

Capuano, E. 2017. The behavior of dietary fiber in the gastrointestinal tract determines its physiological effect. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 57(16): 3543–3564.

Chandra, S., Khan, S., Avula, B., Lata, H., Yang, M. H., ElSohly, M. A. and Khan, I. A. 2014. Assessment of total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant properties, and yield of aeroponically and conventionally grown leafy vegetables and fruit crops: A comparative study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2014: 253875.

Ellison, D. H. 2019. Clinical pharmacology in diuretic use. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 14(8): 1248-1257.

Kennedy, G. L. J., Ferenz, R. L. and Burgess, B. A. 1986. Estimation of acute oral toxicity in rats by determination of the approximate lethal dose rather than the LD50. Journal of Applied Toxicology , 6(3): 145–148.

Konate, K., Yomalan, K., Sytar, O., Zerbo, P., Brestic, M., Patrick, V. D., Gagniuc, P. and Barro, N. 2014. Free radicals scavenging capacity, antidiabetic and antihypertensive activities of flavonoid-rich fractions from leaves of Trichilia emetica and Opilia amentacea in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine , 2014: ID 867075.

Manolis, A. J., Poulimenos, L. E. and Manolis S Kallistratos. 2015. Arterial hypertension: benefits and limitations of treatment. European Society of Cardiology, 13: 28.

Michael, B., Yano, B., Sellers, R. S., Perry, R., Morton, D., Roome, N., Johnson, J. K., Schafer, K. and Pitsch, S. 2007. Evaluation of organ weights for rodent and non-rodent toxicity studies: a review of regulatory guidelines and a survey of current practices. Toxicologic Pathology, 35(5): 742–750.

Stepien, O., Zhang, Y., Zhu, D. and Marche, P. 2002. Dual mechanism of action of amlodipine in human vascular smooth muscle cells. Journal of Hypertension, 20(1): 95-102.

Tata, Charlotte M, Gwebu, E. T., Aremu, O. O., Nkeh-Chungag, B. N., Oyedeji, A. O., Oyedeji, O. O. and Sewani-Rusike, C. R. 2018. Acute toxicity study and prevention of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-induced hypertension by osteopermum imbricatum. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 17(6): 1111–1118.

Tata, Charlotte Mungho, Gwebu, E. T., Olasunkanmi, A. O., Sewani-Rusike, C. R., Omowumi, O. A., Oyedeji, O. O. and Nkeh-Chungag, B. N. 2018. Acute toxicity and antihypertensive effects of Artemisia afra and Leonotis leonurus in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Research Journal of Biotechnology, 13(1): 20–25.

Tata, Charlotte Mungho, Ndinteh, D., Nkeh-Chungag, B. N., Oyedeji, O. O. and Sewani-Rusike, C. R. 2020. Fractionation and bioassay-guided isolation of antihypertensive components of Senecio serratuloides. Cogent Medicine, 7(1): 1716447.

Tata, Charlotte Mungho, Sewani-Rusike, C. R., Oyedeji, O. O., Gwebu, E. T. and Nkeh-Chungag, B. N. 2020. Renoprotective effects of the hydroethanolic extract of Senecio serratuloides against Nw -Nitro L-arginine Methyl Ester-induced oxidative stress in wistar rats. Pharmacognosy Magazine, 16: S418-24.

Tungmunnithum, D., Thongboonyou, A., Pholboon, A. and Yangsabai, A. 2018. Flavonoids and Other Phenolic Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Pharmaceutical and Medical Aspects: An Overview. Medicines (Basel, Switzerland), 5(3): 93-108.

WHO. 2019. Hypertension. World Health Organisation/News. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheet/detail/hypertension